Steel firm uses canal transport

The firm's Leeds base is next to the Aire and Calder Navigation canal

A Leeds steel firm has said a trial to transport raw material by canal in an effort to stem the rising cost of fuel has been a success.

ASD Metal Services claimed dozens of lorry journey were cut as a result of the experiment to transport material from Scunthorpe and the Humber ports.

The firm said more than 2,000 tonnes of steel were moved in two trips along the Humber estuary to West Yorkshire.

The firm's Leeds base is next to the Aire and Calder Navigation canal.

The company's trial follows a review of its transport arrangements and the expansion of its Leeds business.

'Greener steel'

Managers at the firm said they found their efforts to cut costs and find an alternative method of transporting their material were almost scuppered by a lack of suitable barges.

The metal firm said it currently transported more than 60,000 tones of structural steel from the Corus mill at Scunthorpe and Humber Ports and wharfs, all of which could now be transferred from road to water transport.

Manager David Cox said: "The opportunity the Leeds site offers for utilising water transport, instead of roads, was one of the major factors in its selection.

"One Aire and Calder Navigation barge carries up to 600 tonnes, so it can take the place of 24 articulated lorries. I suppose you could call it greener steel."